What This Bill Does · Plain English
Summary · Congress.gov
United States Research Protection Act of 2025 This bill clarifies the definition of a malign foreign talent recruitment program under the Research and Development, Competition, and Innovation Act. The Research and Development, Competition, and Innovation Act, which was included in the CHIPS and Science Act, prohibits researchers who receive federal funds from participating in malign foreign talent recruitment programs, in which foreign countries incentivize or compensate researchers for activities that present a conflict of interest for the researcher or that are otherwise unauthorized (e.g., sharing proprietary information without proper authorization). The bill clarifies that these restrictions apply to programs that are sponsored by a foreign country of concern, including China, Iran, North Korea, and Russia. The bill also clarifies that malign foreign talent recruitment programs may involve direct or indirect compensation or incentives from such countries.
Action Timeline
2025-07-22
Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 123.
2025-07-22
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Reported by Senator Cruz without amendment. With written report No. 119-45.
2025-07-22
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Reported by Senator Cruz without amendment. With written report No. 119-45.
2025-04-30
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.
2025-02-27
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
2025-02-27
Introduced in Senate
Frequently Asked Questions
Did S.769 pass?
S.769 is still alive. Current stage: REPORTED. Pass likelihood: 40%.
What does S.769 do?
United States Research Protection Act of 2025 This bill clarifies the definition of a malign foreign talent recruitment program under the Research and Development, Competition, and Innovation Act. The Research and Development, Competition, and Innovation Act, which was included in the CHIPS and Science Act, prohibits researchers who receive federal funds from participating in malign foreign talent recruitment programs, in which foreign countries incentivize or compensate researchers for activities that present a conflict of interest for the researcher or that are otherwise unauthorized (e.g., …
Who sponsored S.769?
S.769 was sponsored by John Cornyn (R-Texas).
Full Bill Text
119 S769 RS: United States Research Protection Act of 2025 U.S. Senate 2025-07-22 text/xml EN Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain. II Calendar No. 123 119th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 769 [Report No. 119–45] IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES February 27, 2025 Mr. Cornyn (for himself, Mr. Padilla , and Mr. Curtis ) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation July 22, 2025 Reported by Mr. Cruz , without amendment A BILL To amend the Research and Development, Competition, and Innovation Act to clarify the definition of foreign country for purposes of malign foreign talent recruitment restriction, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the United States Research Protection Act of 2025 . 2. Clarification of definition of foreign country for purposes of malign foreign talent recruitment restriction Paragraph (4) of section 10638 of title VI of division B of the Research and Development, Competition, and Innovation Act ( 42 U.S.C. 19237 ) is amended— (1) by inserting of concern after foreign country each place such term appears; (2) by striking means— and all that follows through any program, position, or activity and inserting means any program, position, or activity ; (3) by striking subparagraph (B); (4) by redesignating clauses (i) through (ix) as subparagraphs (A) through (I), respectively, and moving such subparagraphs, as so redesignated, two ems to the left; (5) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), as so redesignated, by striking directly provided and inserting whether directly or indirectly provided ; and (6) in subparagraph (I), as so redesignated, by striking ; and and inserting a period. July 22, 2025 Reported without amendment
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